The good that I choose to do has more merit than when I am obliged to do it.

M. de Montaigne

Bordeaux is the birthplace of the Company of Mary, the cradle of Jeanne de Lestonnac and her first companions. It is the place that contains the roots of a Project that throughout four hundred years in contact with the different world contexts has taken different forms, growing and enriched by each. In the history of the Company of Mary, Bordeaux has always been a place for gatherings, with places and symbols that speak of tradition, memory, identity, future promise, etc., as well as an opportunity to envision new horizons, awaken desires and renew our commitment and restore our zeal…
Aware of inheriting the foundational gift received by Jeanne de Lestonnac and invited to continue her charism, we have established the Bordeaux Project: a program that will provide a solid foundational base to our Company of Mary identity andhelp us discover ways to nurture and transmit it. It will help us deepenour sense of belonging, the authenticity of our lives and guide us in our mission according to each one’s particular vocation.

The Bordeaux Project aims to:

Encourage encounters, reflection, formation and research in various areas stemming from the spirituality, philosophy and pedagogy of the Company of Mary.

Bring together the talents and resources that each context has in order to offer a greater service to the universal body.

Foster interaction and articulation among:persons, venues, and educational projects (primary and secondary schools, popular education or social service projects...), groups of the Laity Network, International Solidarity Foundation of the Company of Mary (FISC) and ODN’s

Encourage the exchange of different points of view, experiences and practices in order to obtain a complementary vision that fosters commitment to creating a more humane world.

The Bordeaux Project is for the religious and laity of the Company of Mary, as well as other persons who wish to participate in specific activities.
Up to now, the Bordeaux Project has been responsible for the following: A reflection on the XVI General Chapter Final Document in commemoration of the 400 anniversary of the celebration of the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Mary in the Company of Mary, the writing and publication of the Company of Mary Educational Project, the development of a digital documentation center that will shortly be activated, and the preparation of a formation plan: “Maintain the flame...share the gift” that will also begin soon in some places throughout the Company of Mary.